Page 12 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2024 REVERE UNIFIED TEAM: The Revere High School Unifi ed Basketball Team and coaches, including Tom Mackey. SMILES AND ‘BUCKETS’: Malden and Revere Unified Basketball Teams shine at GBL Jamboree Student-athletes join together to make it a day full of competition and fun for all at Salemwood Fieldhouse in Malden By Steve Freker W hat it came down to, after all, was not how many baskets they could score, but how many smiles they could generate. The Third Annual Greater Boston League Unifi ed Basketball Jamboree was held Tuesday at the Sam Fishman Fieldhouse at Salemwood K-8 School in Malden. The baskets were scored aplenty, no doubt. But the “Smile Quotient”? Quite simply, through the roof! “This is the best day of the year for our athletics program,” said Charlie Conefrey, Malden Public Schools Director of Wellness, Athletics and Physical Education. “There is nothing better than seeing our studentathletes work side-by-side and have so much fun competing out there.” Unifi ed Sports is one of the fastest-growing programs in the nation. Based foundationally on the principles of equity and inclusivity, Unifi ed Sports joins people with and without intellectual and physical challenges on the same team. Originating from Special Olympics in 2018, Unifi ed Sports was inspired by a simple principle: Training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. A 1997 Malden High School graduate and MHS Golden Tornado Hall of Famer, Conefrey took the reins of the Athletic Department in 2016. Under Conefrey’s leadership, Malden High School and its athletic program was a pioneer in establishing Unifi ed Sports as an integral part of its overall off erings in the Greater Boston League (GBL). “We are fortunate to have a REVERE BENCH: The Revere Unifi ed Basketball Team’s Bench. large, enthusiastic group of students in our high school who are challenged in their daily lives and love to take part in organized sports,” Conefrey said, noting that Malden off ers basketball in the fall and outdoor
13 Publizr Home